NOTABLE WOMEN OF ST. DAVID’S
The Parish History and Archives Committee honors the women of St. David’s on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment to The Constitution of the United States of America on August 26th, 2020
By recognizing
Notable women buried in the Churchyard And our women clergy.
Mary (Polly) Wayne
Katharine Wentworth Ruschenberger
Dorothy Harrison Eustis
Beatrice Edgerly MacPherson
Helen Hope Montgomery Scott
Rose Bampton Pelletier
Virginia Duffey Pleasants
Elizabeth (Betty) Ranney Moran
The Rev. Susan Cox Keppy
The Rev. Elaine Howlett Breckenridge
The Rev. Joy Anna Marie Mills
The Rev. Vicki L. Smith
The Rev. Dr. Katherine R. Firth
The Rev. Kimberly E. Haag
The Rev. Carolyn Tuttle Huff
The. Rev. Alison Propeck Harrity
The Rev. Carlotta B. Cochran
The. Rev. Dr. Hillary Raining
The. Rev. Amanda Eiman
The. Rev. Dr. Martha Tucker
The. Rev. Elizabeth Colton
The. Rev. Emily Zimbrick-Rogers
M
1746-1793
Mary (Polly) Wayne has been honored by both the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and The Sons of the American Revolution (SAR). Note that there are two flags at her altar tombstone out the chancel window of the old church.
The chapter name was chosen to honor the wife of General Anthony Wayne. Mary Penrose was the youngest of five children born to Bartholomew Penrose, Jr. and his wife Mary Kirl. Mr. Penrose was the son of a wealthy shipbuilder in Philadelphia, who came to America from Bristol, England in 1700. Mary or "Polly," as she was known, was born ca. 1749. She met Anthony Wayne at a Military Ball in Philadelphia. After a brief courtship, Anthony Wayne and Mary Penrose were married in 1766 at Christ Church, Philadelphia.
A daughter, Margaretta, was born in 1770 and a son, Isaac, was born in 1772, both at their farm in Chester County, Pennsylvania. Mary remained at "Waynesborough" throughout the War and was endangered many times by the approach of British soldiers. She managed the farm and tannery owned by Anthony. According to the Isaac Wayne family Bible, Mary died at the family residence on April 18, 1793, at the age of 44. Her burial was in the cemetery of St. David's Episcopal Church.
According to The Revolutionary War Flag Placement Report, Mrs. Mary Penrose Wayne is awarded the rank of ‘Lady Patriot.’
Katharine Rushenberger, an active member of the Pennsylvania Woman Suffrage Association, commissioned at her own expense the “Justice Bell,” a bronze replica of the Liberty Bell. In 1915 in a Model-T flatbed she toured Pennsylvania to support “Amendment Number One” granting women full voting rights. Sadly, the referendum lost. Katharine persevered. She began touring nationally with the bell until the 19th Amendment was proposed and ratified. Not until after women could vote did the bell ring out in Independence Square as the clapper had been chained to the bell’s side just as women’s voices had been silenced.
-Original inscription on the Liberty Bell
-Inscription added to the Justice Bell
“The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied nor abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.”
-19th Amendment to the United States Constitution, 1920
Churchyard:
Old Yard
Lot 026 Grave
“Establish justice and secure the blessings of liberty”
“Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof”
The Seeing Eye was incorporated in January of 1929. Co-founders were Morris Frank, a blind veteran of WWI, and Dorothy Harrison Eustis. She served as the first president of the organization. Struggling because of his lack of mobility, Frank contacted Dorothy Eustis who had written an article about her work training German Shepherd police dogs in Switzerland. Together, they trained Buddy, a German Shepherd, and demonstrated the dog’s ability to navigate New York City streets. The Seeing Eye is the oldest guide dog school in the world.
By Eva Moore
Dorothy poses with Parole and Nancy, two dogs trained to lead blind people (Sept. 7, 1933).
The Associated Press
Dorothy with three of her German Shepherds.
The Seeing Eye Archives
Churchyard:
Old Yard Lot 266
Grave 1
1898-1973
Beatrice Edgerly became a successful magazine illustrator and teacher who co-founded the Southern Arizona School of Art. Her book, Ararat Cocktail, was published in 1939. Among other places she studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts where she met John Havard
MacPherson, a landscape painter, whom she married in 1922. During World War II she served as a Grey Lady at the Air Force Regional Hospital, Tucson, Arizona. Dorothy became interested in flying and earned her pilot’s license in 1937.
Churchyard: Section B Lot 185
Grave 2
Hope Montgomery Scott standing in front of her portrait painted by Augustus John at Ardrossan.
Katharine Hepburn, who portrays Tracy Lord, the socialite inspired by Hope Montgomery Scott, in the movie, “The Philadelphia Story.” She won a “Best Actress” Oscar for her role.
Photos from “Chestnut Hill Local” January 27, 2020
Helen Hope Montgomery, who became known as “the preeminent symbol of Philadelphia’s Main Line society” was the daughter of Colonel Robert Montgomery, the wealthy owner of the Ardrossan estate in Villanova. At an early age she became an accomplished equestrian and participated regularly in the Devon and Bryn Mawr horse shows. Education was stressed in the family and although extensive travel was included, Helen Hope was primarily taught at home.
The year of her debut Helen Hope was “one of Philadelphia’s most popular and sought-after debutantes of the season.” In 1923 she married Edgar Scott, heir to a Pennsylvania Railroad fortune, a marriage that lasted seventy-one years.
In 1939 Philip Barry, a playwright and classmate of her husband’s wrote, “The Philadelphia Story” and told Mrs. Scott that he had used her as the inspiration. In 1940 Katharine Hepburn, a Bryn Mawr College graduate, starred in the movie.
Mrs. Scott became interested in cows, and her dairy farm was known for its award winning Ayrshire herd that produced an annual output of 20,000 pounds of milk per cow.
Churchyard: Section B Lot 021
Grave 2
1907-2007
In 1929 Rose Bampton moved to Philadelphia to join the Philadelphia Grand Opera Company and enter the Curtis Institute of Music for graduate studies. During this time, she met Wilfred Pelletier, a conductor at the Metropolitan Opera. They married in 1937. She also sang with the Philadelphia Orchestra.
Rose Bampton made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera when she sang Verdi’s, “Il Trovatore,” in 1937. She became a leading operatic singer internationally for more than 30 years. In 1974, she joined the faculty at Julliard and remained there until 1991. Class after class of students held her in high regard.
Churchyard: Section C Lot 139
Grave 2
Churchyard: Ancient Yard Lot 038
Grave 7
Virginia Pleasants in The Old Church on November 11, 2001 playing the harpsichord during her recital.
Betty Moran with her grandchildren at the St. David’s Fair.
The congregation of St. David’s remembers Betty Moran as an active member of our parish and a generous philanthropist, who made a career of owning and breeding thoroughbred horses. She loved animals and began fox hunting and attending pony club events with her children. Later, she began investing in thoroughbred horses and, then, racing from Brushwood Farm, both steeplechasers and horses on a flat course. A “fierce” competitor, one of her proudest moments was when Crème Fraiche, a gelding, won the Belmont Stakes in 1985. Brushwood Stables also focused on breeding champion horses for sale as yearlings.
Betty’s mother died when she was young and she and her father moved to Brushwood Farm in 1942. As a young girl she lived with the Sisters of Mercy at Misericordiae (now Merion Mercy). Later she boarded at The Shipley School and attended Mary Washington College in Virginia. Betty met James Maxwell Moran at St. Patrick’s Church, Malvern, when he was passing the collection plate. They married, had six children, and enjoyed a life together of nonstop activity traveling, going to Avalon, and participating in the demands of the farm and the horses.
Supporting her community, particularly in Chester County, was important to Betty. She gave generously of her time and money to a variety of nonprofits and made a difference in countless lives. She was deeply humble in her giving and was rarely willing to allow anyone to know of her support. Betty was a faithful, committed Christian and member of St. David’s Church. She worshiped here every Sunday she was in town and took part in all aspects of parish life.
Churchyard: Section D
Grave 180
Betty’s personal motto, “Be kind, considerate, charitable, and fierce.”
Our first woman priest, Susan Cox Keppy, was a curate at St. David’s between 1981-1987. Susan served as clergy liaison to the action committee and provided workshops for clowning. Susan recently retired from the ministry after serving for almost 30 years as an Episcopal priest. She was the rector of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Lewiston, New York, for 18 years. Along the way, Susan became a skilled grief counselor and helped “hundreds of families” through life-changing times. Susan learned that first responders needed more support, so she became the chaplain to the Buffalo Police Department from 2004-2008.
The Rev. Elaine P. Howlett served as an Assistant Rector at St. David’s between 19871989. The special focus of her ministry was in the field of family, children and youth. The Rt. Rev. Allen L. Bartlett, Jr. officiated at her ordination on March 25th, 1988, in the Chapel.
The Rev. Joy Mills was a part-time Pastoral Associate at St. David’s from June 1990 to June 1992. Her primary focus involved a pre-marital enrichment program. In April of 1988, Joy was ordained at St. David’s by the Rt. Rev. Alan Bartlett. Lew Mills, Associate Rector, preached the sermon in celebration of his wife.
The Rev. Joy MillsIn May of 1990, Vicki Smith began her ministry at St. David’s and served until October of 1993. Her responsibilities centered around the Christian education for children and youth.
The Rev. Dr. Katharine R. Firth served at St. David’s as Associate Rector between September 1994 and June 1996. She was involved with the teaching and pastoral care ministries. Katharine enjoyed the challenge of preaching. Prior to coming to St. David’s she lived in England and earned a PhD in History at Oxford University. Sadly, Katharine was killed in an automobile accident in Maine where she had been interim pastor at Grace Episcopal Church, Bath.
The Rev. Kimberly E. Haag served as Curate at St. David’s from the fall of 1998 until May of 1999. She celebrated her Priestly Ordination at St. David’s on December 12th, 1998. Kim was responsible for working with youth, Confirmation, worship and some of the adult education program.
The Rev. Carolyn Tuttle came to St. David’s as an Associate Rector on October 1st, 1999. Some of her responsibilities included youth ministry, outreach programs and Stephen Ministries. On January 25th, 2003, the Rector, Frank Allen officiated at her marriage to David Huff.
The Rev. Alison Propeck Harrity served as Associate Rector for Youth and Outreach between September 2004 and 2011 when she left to return to Florida.
With regard to Outreach, Alison was involved with the Grants Commission and programs in Guatemala and Uganda. Prior to her ordination, the Rev. Steven Jacobson hired her to be Youth Minister. Now, Alison is the rector of St. Richard’s Episcopal Church, Winter Park, Florida.
The Rev. Carlotta Cochran joined the clergy of St. David’s in 2009 and spent a year serving as an associate rector for pastoral care. Suzy Wasson wrote, “Her quiet grace and concern for all of the St. David’s family was a wonderful thing to observe.” Lottie is now rector of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Norfolk, Virginia.
From 2011 to 2014 the Rev. Hillary Raining served at St. David’s as an Associate Rector. Her responsibilities included overseeing the Pastoral Care and Fellowship Commissions. She also contributed musically by playing piano, violin and guitar. Hillary is married to Ken Raining, a librarian, and they have a daughter, Delia. While at St. David’s the family resided in the Old Rectory. Today, Hillary is the rector of St. Christopher’s Church, Gladwyne, Pennsylvania.
The Rev. Martha Tucker became an Associate Rector at St. David’s in 2015 after having graduating from Divinity School. She served for four years before leaving to go to Christ Church, Sharon, Connecticut where she is the Missional Priest in Charge. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Martha also serves as a hospice chaplain for the northwest corner of Connecticut. Prior to going into the ministry Martha taught school, earned a law degree and practiced law in Philadelphia. She studied Developmental Psychology and became the director of the Swarthmore Presbyterian Nursery School. This experience caused her to be especially well prepared to help start up St. David’s Episcopal Day School.
The Rev. Amanda Eiman served as an Associate Rector of St. David’s from 2015 to 2019. Her responsibilities included support for the Worship and Fellowship ministries. At the time, Amanda’s husband, the Rev. Chris Bishop, was Rector of St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Radnor. While at St. David’s, living in the Old Rectory, Amanda gave birth to their daughter, Emma, and then, later to twins, Wesley and Agnes. Amanda left her ministry here when she was called to become rector of St. Phillip’s Episcopal Church in Garrison, New York.
The Rev. Elizabeth (Liz) Colton presently serves as an Associate Rector at St. David’s. Liz was ordained to priesthood in 2004 after which she became rector of Grace Church and the Incarnation, Trinity Gulph Mills and Interim Rector of All Saints’ Torresdale. Liz’s first career was in music education which took her from New York to San Francisco to Australia. She has been very active within the Diocese of Pennsylvania and now serves on The Standing Committee. Liz is the chaplain to the St. David’s Episcopal Day School.
The Rev. Emily Zimbrick-Rogers is serving as an Associate Rector at St. David’s. She came to us in 2019 and accepted responsibility for supporting the Discipleship and Fellowship Commissions. Emily is not only trained in theology, but also in creative writing and gender studies. The St. David’s congregation celebrated with her on July 14th, 2020 when she was ordained in the Chapel with the Rt. Rev. Daniel Gutiérrez, Bishop of Pennsylvania, officiating. The service was held under difficult circumstances due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Emily, her husband, Charles, and daughter, Louisa, reside in the Old Rectory.
